West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-06-10
PURE AND MANLY.

General Robert +. Lee was n
thoughtful boy, for his mother had
taught him to practice self-deniat
and self-control, and to be economi
cal in expending money. His
fathers death, when the boy was
but eleven years Of age, made him n
''little man." He did the marketing,
managed outdoor affairs and looked
after the comfort Of his invalid
mother. AS soon as school closed
for the noon recess he rushed away
from the frolicsome boys and hnr.
ried home to arrange for his mothers
daily ride Young as he was, he
carried her to the carriage arranged
the cushions, and seating himself
by her side tried to entertain her,
gravely reminding her that the ride
would fail to benefit her unless she
was cheerful.
Robert is both son and u
daughter to me-" the mother used To
say.
He was the most methodical man
ayers and the neatest of housekeep
ers. Unlike many boys, he did not
think it beneath him to attend TO
details or to do little things with as
much carefnlness as if they were
large. While studying comic sec
tions he drew diagrams on slate.
Though he knew the one he was
drawing would be rubbed out to
make room for another, he drew it
with as much accuracy and neatness
as if it were to be engraved.
After his return from the Mexican
war, his wife on opening his trunk
found every article of clothing he
had taken with him, and a bottle of
brandy, which had been put for
medical purposes, unopened.
He never drank brandy or whis
ky, and rarely glass Of wine. and
he never used tobacco To appre
hend the meaning Of this fact, and
its powerful illustration of the lads
self.control, one must recall the rol-
licking life and drinking customs Of
Virginia during General Lees boy
hood and youth.
During n school vacation, he was
q guest in country house, where
the host, fascinating gentleman Of
culture, lived n gay, wild life. Young
Robert, who had been trained to
self-control and self-denial, was
shocked. He made no comment on
what he saw, but he refused To join
in the revels.
The unspoken rebuke brought to
his bedside, the night before his de-
parture, the penitent host. The
youths abstinence had shamed him,
mad he, man ofthe world, came TO con
fess to his youthful guest sorrow for
the wild life he was leading.
Earnestly he warned him to be
ware OF acquiring drinking habits,
and urged him TO persist in his tenn
perate course of life. On leaving
him, the host promised he would try
to reform.
Yet this methodical, self.controil-
ed, affectionate, serviceable boy was
no "goodey." He was the son Of
'Light Horse Harry" Of the Reyo-
luton, and inherited his fathers
martial spirit. He chose the army
for his profession, and his friends
and relatives approved his choice.
He entered West point at the age
Of eighteen, graduated second in his
class. and during the four years of
cadet life he did not receive de
merit mark for any breach of rules
or neglect OF duty. He avoided to
bacco and Intoxicating liquors,
never uttered n word to which a
woman might not have listened, and
never did deed which his mother
could not have approved.
Lads who think it efeminate To
be good, and manly to be bad, are
asked to harmonic their notions
with the pure, noble boyhood Of
General Robert Z. Lee.